Distillery guard charged in bourbon theft ring

Evidence presented at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in April from the investigation of a bourbon theft syndicate included a stainless steel barrel, center, like the one involved in an indictment May 19 of a Buffalo Trace Distillery security guard.(Photo: Gregory A. Hall/The Courier-Journal)Buy Photo

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Franklin County grand jury Tuesday indicted a former Buffalo Trace Distillery security guard on accusations of twice being paid to look the other way as 11 barrels were stolen in part of what authorities say was a bourbon theft criminal syndicate.

Prosecutor Zachary Becker, an assistant commonwealth's attorney handling the case, said Leslie M. Wright, 34, of Frankfort, has admitted receiving a total of $800 for allowing the theft of stainless steel barrels.

She is charged with complicity in receiving stolen property over $10,000.

"She appeared to be very truthful in her admissions here," Becker said, which were made in an interview with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office that is investigating the case.

The woman is the 10th person charged in the what investigators and Becker say was a criminal operation that improperly obtained and sold bourbon and steroids.

Becker said again Tuesday that more indictments could be sought "in light of this and other information that's come to light ... The investigation is still very much ongoing at this point."

Buffalo Trace Distillery worker Gilbert "Toby" Curtsinger is accused of being the ringleader of the syndicate that operated out of Central Kentucky since 2008 obtaining bourbons like Pappy Van Winkle and Wild Turkey and selling them. Curtsinger was arrested in March after sheriff's investigators searched his Frankfort home, where five Wild Turkey barrels were found in the backyard in addition to steroids. A Franklin County grand jury released the racketeering indictment of the nine last month.

Two have since pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen property and agreed to work with prosecutors on the case.

Besides those indicted, the investigation also led to the resignation of now-former Frankfort Police Officer Mike Wells after his name surfaced in the investigation. According to a case summary filed with the court, Wells said he participated in the purchasing of the steroids and used some himself. He has not been charged, but Becker has said Wells is expected to testify at trial.

Becker said Tuesday that Wright cooperated in giving a statement, but isn't aware if she's hired an attorney yet. He said Wright worked at the distillery for about two years.

NEWSLETTERS

Get the Dining newsletter delivered to your inbox

We're sorry, but something went wrong

The latest on Louisville dining, recipes, the city's celebrity chefs and more!

In the interview, Wright admitted to being paid $500 by Curtsinger so he could get six barrels -- that she said she was told by Curtsinger that he wanted for scrap metal -- on one occasion in December and $300 for five more barrels the following week.

Wright said in the interview that the thefts occurred during public ghost tours at the distillery at dusk or in the early evening and that Curtsinger drove his pickup truck with the barrels covered by a tarp, Becker said. He added that the numbers of barrels each time came from another witness in the case, Buffalo Trace co-worker Austin Johnson, who was hiding in the truck and working with Curtsinger.

Becker said one of the barrels has been recovered and was found to have 23 gallons of Eagle Rare inside it worth about $12,000. Repackaged contents from another barrel also were recovered.

Michael Shaun Ballard and Ronnie Lee Hubbard also have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen property worth more than $10,000, an amended misdemeanor charge, after originally being indicted along with the other seven defendants for engaging in organized crime — Kentucky law's equivalent of racketeering. Both agreed to cooperate against the remaining defendants and are recommended to receive one-year sentences — but those could be served on probation rather than in a jail if a judge allows.

Wright's help "certainly did provide an easier means in order to commit this very valuable theft," Becker said.

Becker said he couldn't say whether Wright knew the barrels weren't empty, but that the payments were considerable for what were supposed to be just scrap metal.

The arraignments of the remaining seven original defendants, including Curtsinger, are set for Friday in Franklin Circuit Court.

Besides the racketeering charge, Curtsinger, 45, is charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, four counts of trafficking in a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia while in possession of a firearm.

Reporter Gregory A. Hall can be reached at (502) 582-4087. Follow him on Twitter at @gregoryahall.